Book attachment



1937- c. A. WATERS 2,089,457

BOOK ATTACHMENT I Filed Aug. 23, 1935 H15 19 far/ 5 Patented Aug. ill, 1937 UNETEE S'E'A'EEE re ain FA'EENT @FFIQE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for use on books and relates more particularly to a book attachment that is operable to hold a book open and to operate as a book marker when the book is closed. A general object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical and effective book attachment that is operable to dependably hold a book open at any selected place and that forms an eiiective book marker when the book is closed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device or attachment of the character rnentioned that is operable to dependably and securely hold the book open at the selected place and that automatically operates to become a marker to indicate the said place in the book when the book is deliberately closed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book attachment or combination leaf holder and leaf marker of the character mentioned that does not strain, mar, deface or otherwise injure the book.

Another object of the invention is to provide a book attachment of the character mentioned that is adapted for use on books of various sizes and on the various standard or typical forms of books.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book attachment of the character mentioned that does not cover any of the printed matter on the open or exposed leaves of the book or otherwise interfere with the reading of the book.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book attachment of the character mentioned that is easy and convenient to apply to the book and that does not embody clamp screws or other parts that must be adjusted before use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a book attachment of the character mentioned that is very simple and inexpensive of manufac- 49 ture.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following 7 detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout .1 which description reference is made to the aci.

companying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a view of an open book illustrating the device provided by this invention attached thereto and holding the book open. Fig. 2 is an 59 enlarged fragmentary top elevation taken substantially as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1 with the book closed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal detailed sectional view of the attachment being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on 55 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 1-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation view of the outer side of the device being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 5--5 on Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 6---% on Fig. 3.

The device or attachment provided by this invention is adapted for use on the common or typical forms of books. In the drawing I have illustrated the device employed in connection with a typical book comprising a multiplicity of pages or leaves L formed into packs or folios which are bound together in the usual manner. The book illustrated further includes a cover comprising a front It), a rear H, and a back or cap 62 extending between and connecting the front and rear.

The device or attachment provided by this invention includes, generally, a body I3, means I d for releasably or detachably connecting the body 3 with the book, a finger or blade l5 adapted to engage opposing leaves L of the book, and an operative connection it between the blade !5 and the body it whereby the blade may be swung between a position clear of the leaves L and a position where it is adapted to bear on opposing leaves L to hold the book open.

The body l3 of the attachment is disposed at one end of the book when the device or attachment is in its operative position on the book. It is preferred to locate the body l3 at the upper edge or end of the book as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing and the body is connected with the book by the means It as will be hereinafter described. In the simple, preferred form of the invention the body l3 is a one piece or integral member. The body i3 is substantially U-shaped comprising two spaced plate-like parts H and it connected at which I will term their rear ends by a curved portion H9. The opposite longitudinal edges of the plate parts I? and [8 may be forwardly or outwardly convergent as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawing. The parts ll and i8 are provided with spaced longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs or ridges 9. In accordance with the invention the body I3 is flexible, the plate parts ll and i8 being in the nature of spring plates or leaf springs. A socket or recess 20 is provided in the outer or forward end portion of the body part ll and faces or opposes the inner side of the part l8. The inner wall of the recess 20 is cylindrically curved while the edge portions of the plate part ll are turned in wardly to provide the recess 20 with straight parallel side walls 2!.

The means M is operable to releasably or detachably connect the body It with the book and is such that the body l 3 may be pivoted or swung to various positions to adapt the blade E5 to extend between the leaves L at various places in the book. The attaching means it includes a member 22 extending laterally or at substantially right angles to the lower or rear end portion of the body 53. The member 22 is adapted to be inserted between the inner edges of the bound leaves L and the book back or cap l2. In practice the member 22 is comparatively long to extend a substantial distance into the space between the edges of the bound leaves L and the cap I 2. member 22 is preferably transversely curved to conform, generally, to the cap l2 and the bound edges of the leaves L when the book is closed, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. A flange 23 is provided at the upper or outer end of the member 22. The flange 23 projects laterally from the member 22 and is substantially parallel with the plate part II of the body 93. In the preferred construction the flange 23 is integral with the member 22.

The releasable attaching means i4 includes fingers or clips 24 for securely or firmly connecting the member 22 with the back or cap l2 of the book. The clips 2 E may be integral with the member 22 and its flange 23 and may be formed by making longitudinal cuts 25 in the opposite edge portions of the member 22 adjacent its upper or outer end. The cuts 25 may extend outwardly from the flange 23 and lateral cuts 25 may con nect with their lower or outer ends leaving the outer ends of the clips 24 free of the member 22.

The clips 24 are longitudinally bowed or curved as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing so that they'are adapted to engage over the outer surface of the book back or cap I2 when the member 22 is inserted in the book. The clips 24 are bowed or curved outwardly from adjacent the flange 23 and then inwardly below the inner or lower surface of the member 22 and are then bowed or turned outwardly again at their outer ends. In being shaped in this manner the clips 24 are effective in dependably and. securely attaching the member 22 to the back or cap E2 of the book.

A pivotal connection is provided between the flange 23 of the member 22 and the body l3 so that the body may be freely swung to various positions to adapt the blade l5 to enter the book at various places or pages. A pin 21 is arranged through transverse openings in the inner or rear portions of the plate parts i! and i8. A head 28 is provided on the outer end of the pin 21 to engage the outer side of the plate part IS. The pin 2'! projects from the outer surface of the plate part II and has a portion 29 of reduced diameter providing an outwardly facing annular shoulder 39. The reduced portion 29 of the pin 27 extends through and is turnable in an opening 3! in the flange 23. A spacer or washer 32 is arranged on the reduced portion 29 of the pin between the flange 23 and the shoulder 30. A screw 33 is threaded into a longitudinal opening in the reduced portion 29. The screw has a head at the end of the reduced portion 29 and a washer 34 is arranged between the head of the screw and the end of the reduced portion. The parts just described are proportioned so that the reduced portion 28 of the pin 21 is freely turnable in the opening 3! of the flange. It is to be noted that tightening of the screw 33 merely tightens the 75 washer 34 against the outer end of the reduced The pin portion 29 and does not clamp the flange 23 against the washer 32.

The blade i 5 is provided to extend between two leaves L of the book to bear thereon when the book is open and thus prevent closing of the book and turning of the leaves. The blade to is adapted to extend between the leaves L of the book when the book is closed to indicate or mark a selected place in the book. The blade i5 is an elongate plate-like part. In the preferred construction the blade i5 is substantially ovate in plan elevation having curved or arcuate longitudinal edges and rounded ends. The outer end portion of the blade '85 is preferably narrower and more pointed than the inner end portion. The blade 25 issufliciently wide to engage against the two opposing leaves L of the open book to 'dependably prevent turning of the leaves and closing of the book. The blade i5 is preferably formed of thin material or sheet metal as illustrated throughout the drawing.

The means 5'6 for operatively connecting the blade with the body it is such that the blade I5 may be deliberately pivoted between its active position where it extends between and engages two opposing leaves L of the open book and an inactive position at the upper end of the book where the pages or leaves L may be freely turned without interference. The means 13 includes a wire or rod 36 extending longitudinally of the blade i5 and disposed at one face or surface of the blade. Said face of the blade It has a channel or groove 31 entering it from the inner end of the blade to receive or partially receive the rod 36. The groove 3? may be formed by bending the material of which the blade i5 is formed. Two pairs of transverse cuts or slots 38 are provided in the blade l5 and intersect the groove 37. The material between the slots 38 is bent outwardly from said grooved face of the blade It to form loops or tabs 40 which engage over the rod 36. In accordance with the invention the rod 36 fits the groove 37 and is received by the tabs 48 so that the blade is free to turn or rotate on the rod. The blade !5 is held against longitudinal movement on the rod 36. An annular groove 4! is provided in the outer end portion of the rod 36 and the outer tab 40 is. reduced in width to enter or cooperate with the groove 49. The cooperation of the tab 4i! with the groove 4i holds the blade l5 against longitudinal movement on the rod 36. The rod 36 may be unequally spaced'between the opposite longitudinal edges of the blade l5 so that the blade it more readily pivots on the rod to be properly received between the opposing leaves L when the book is deliberately closed.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the means i6 operatively connecting the blade I5 with the body it operates to yieldingly urge the blade i5 against the leaves L to prevent turning of the leaves when the book is open. The rod 36 extends outwardly or upwardly from the upper end of the blade l5 and its upper portion is bent or angularly disposed relative to the blade. A cam 42 is positioned between the two plate parts I! and i3 of the body it and is partially received in the recess 20. A slot 43 is provided in the recessed portion of the plate part II and the rod 36 extends through the slot. The rod 36 is suitably connected to the cam 42. In the particular structure illustrated in the drawing the end portion of the rod 36 is threaded into an opening in the cam 42. The cam 42 has a cylindrical face 44 adapted to cooperate with the cylindrical wall of the recess 20. The opposite ends of the cam t2 are flat and are engaged by the walls 2! of the recess to prevent endwise movement of the cam.

5 The cam 42 has a substantially flat surface 44 engaged by the inner surface of the plate part 88 when the blade 15 is in its operative position between the leaves L of the book. The body plate part i8 bears against the cam face 44 through the 10 resiliency of the body to hold the cam 42 in the recess. The cooperation of the plate part It with the cam face ti l holds the cam 42 and rod 36 in the position where the blade I 5 bears against the opposing leaves L with pressure to prevent turning of the leaves and closing of the book. The cam 42 has a second substantially fiat face 45 extending from the outer .edge of the flat face 44 at an angle somewhat less than 90. When the blade 55 is moved outwardly from between the leaves L the fiat face 45 is brought into engagement with the inner surface of the spring plate part E8. The engagement of the face 55 with the inner side of the part l8 yieldingly holds the blade l5 in its out or inoperative position until it is deliberately shifted by the user. It is to be noted that the cam G2 which pivots or turns in the recess 20 forms a pivot pin or pintle for pivotally connecting the rod 36 with the body I3.

It is believed that the utility and practicability of the device or attachment will be readily under stood from the foregoing detailed description. The attachment is easily and quickly secured to the book by inserting the member 22 between the bound rear edges of the leaves L and the back or cap l2 in a manner so that the clips 24 receive and grip the cap i2. It is believed that it will be apparent how the cap 52 of the book is securely gripped between the member 22 and the flexible clips 24. The body I3 is disposed at the upper edge or end of the book when the device is properly applied to the book and the blade [5 may be swung to position between any two opposing leaves L. Upon the blade |5 being moved or swung to a position to engage two opposing leaves L the flat cam face M is brought to the position where it is engaged by the inner side of the spring part or plate part 18. This engagement of the part IS with the cam face 44 holds the rod 36 and the blade 85 in a position where the blade I 5 bears against the opposing leaves L with suificient pressure to prevent turning of the leaves and closing of the book. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the opposite longitudinal edges of the blade I5 are adapted to engage the opposing leaves L in a manner to effectively prevent turning of the leaves. When the user desires to turn a page or leaf L of the book he may swing the blade outwardly or upwardly to a position clear of the upper edges of the leaves L so that the leaf may be easily turned Without interference. When the blade i5 is brought to this inoperative or inactive position the cam 42 is turned to a position where the flat cam face 45 is engaged by the inner surface of the spring part or plate part IS. The engagement of the part 58 with thecam face 55 retains the blade I 5 in its inactive position until it is deliberately swung back to the operative position M shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

In the event that the reader or user closes the book when the blade i5 is in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawing the inward movement of the leaves L toward one another causes the blade 5 to turn on the rod 36 and assume a position where it lies fiat between the opposing leaves L when the book is fully closed. Thus the blade [5 may be employed as a marker to indicate or mark any selected place in the book. The combination page or leaf holder and book marker of the present invention is very simple and convenient to use and is easily applied to and detached from the book without injuring or defacing the book. The device or attachment is very simple and inexpensive of manufacture and embodies a minimum number of parts.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A book attachment of the character described including, means for securing the attachment in the book, a body plate pivotally carried by said means to be disposed at an end of the book, a part pivotally carried by the plate and projecting therefrom and adapted to be arranged between the leaves of the book, a blade turnable on the said part, the opposite longitudinal edges of the blade being adapted to simultaneously engage two opposite leaves of the book, and means for yieldingly urging the blade against the leaves.

2. A book attachment of the character described including, means for securing the attachment in the book, a body plate pivotally carried by said means to be disposed at an end of the book, a part pivotally carried by the plate and projecting therefrom, a blade rotatable on the said part and adapted to engage the opposite leaves of the book, and means for yieldingly urging the blade against the leaves of the book including a spring associated with the plate, and a cam in connection with the said part cooperating with the spring.

3. A book attachment of the character described including a member adapted to be secured to the book, a blade for engaging the pages of the book, means mounting the blade on said member to be movable to positions between vari" ous leaves of the book, a spring on said means, and a cam included in said means cooperating with the spring to urge the blade against the leaves of the book.

4. A book attachment of the character described including a member adapted to be secured in the book, an elongate blade having longitudinal edges adapted to engage opposite leaves of the book, a rod supporting the blades for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a body pivotally connecting the rod with the member for movement about an axis spaced from and extending in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the blade so that the blade may be arranged between the various leaves of the book. and means associated with the body acting on the rod to yieldingly urge the blade against the leaves.

5. A book attachment of the character described including a body, a member to be detachably connected with the book, a pivotal connection between the member and body supporting the body for pivotal movement at an end of the book about an axis extending longitudinally of the book binding, a blade adapted to extend longitudinally between opposing leaves of the book to have its longitudinal edge portions bear thereon, a rod carrying the blade, a pivotable cam on the body carrying the rod whereby the blade is movable between a position clear of the leaves and a position between and engaging the leaves, and a spring part on the body cooperating with the cam to yieldlngly hold the blade in the last named position where it bears on the leaves.

6. A book attachment of the character described including a body, a member to be detachably connected with the book, a pivotal connection between the member and body supporting the body for pivotal movement at an end of the book about an axis extending longitudinally of the book binding, a blade adapted to extend longitudinally between opposing leaves of the book to have its longitudinal edge portions simultaneously bear thereon, a rod carrying the blade, a spring part on the body, a cam carrying the rod and pivotally carried by the body whereby the blade may be swung between a position between the leaves and a position clear of the leaves, and cam faces on the cam engageable by the spring part to yieldingly hold the blade in the said positions.

'7. A book attachment of the character described inciuding a body, a member to be detachably connected with the book, a connection between the body and member supporting the body for pivotal movement at an end of the book about an axis extending longitudinally of the book binding, a blade adapted to extend longitudinally between opposing leaves of the book to have its longitudinal edge portions bear thereon, a rod carrying the blade for pivotal movement whereby the blade may lie flat between the leaves of the book when the book is closed and may have its longitudinal edges bear on opposing leaves when the book is open, a spring part on the body, a cam carrying the rod and pivotally carried by the body whereby the blade may be swung between a position between the leaves and a position clear of the leaves, and cam faces on the cam engageable by the spring part to yieldingiy hold the blade in the said position.

8. A book attachment of the character mentioned including a member adapted to be inserted in the binding of the book, a body to be disposed at an end of the book, a pivotal connection between the body and member, the body comprising two flexibly conn cted plate parts, a blade adapted to engage against two opposing leaves of the book to prevent them from turning, a rod carrying the blade for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, a pivot element carrying the rod and pivoted on body whereby the blade may be swung between a position clear of the leaves and a position between opposing leaves, and a cam face on the cam cooperating with one of said parts to yieldingly urge the blade against said opposing leaves.

9. A book attachment or" the character mentioned including a member adapted to be inserted in the binding of the book, clips on the member for releasably connecting the member with the back of the book, a body to be disposed at an end of the book, a pivotal connection between the body and member, the body comprising two flexibly connected plate parts, a blade adapted to engage against two opposing leaves of the book to prevent them from turning, a rod carrying the blade for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, a pivot element carrying the rod and pivoted on the body whereby the blade may be swung between a position clear of the leaves and a position between opposing leaves, and a cam face on the cam cooperating with one of said parts to yieldingly urge the blade against said opposing leaves.

10. A book attachment of the character described including, a member insertable in the binding of a book to be secured to the book, a blade for simultaneously engaging two pages of the book, and means pivotabiy mounting the blade on the member so that it is movable to various positions in the book, including a body pivotally carried by and projecting from the member, a part carrying the blade and extending longitudinally thereof, and a pivotal connection between said part and the body whereby said part may pivot about an axis at right angles to the axis of the said means.

11. A book attachment of the character described including a member adapted to be inserted in the binding of the book, a clip on the member for gripping the back of the book to secure the member thereto, a blade whose longitudinal edges are adapted to simultaneously en gage the inner parts of two opposite leaves of the book, and means mounting the blade on the member so that it is movable to various positions in the book, including a body plate projecting from the member, a pivotal connection between the member and plate, and a part pivoted on the body plate to move about an axis at right angles to the axis of said pivotal connection and extending longitudinally of the blade and rotatably carrying the blade.

12. A book attachment of the character described including, an attaching member for securing the attachment in the book, a body plate pivotally carried by said member to be disposed at an end of the book, a part, means pivotally connecting said part with the plate to turn about an axis at right angles to the axis of pivotal movement between the body plate and said member, and a blade arranged longitudinally of said part and rotatable on said part and adapted to simultaneously engage the inner parts of two opposite leaves of the book.

13. A book attachment of the character described including a body, a member adapted to be detachably connected with the book, means securing the body to the member for pivotal movement at an end of the book, a blade adapted to extend longitudinally between opposing leaves of the book to have its longitudinal edge portions bear thereon, a rod extending longitudinally of the blade and pivotally carrying the blade whereby the blade may lie flat between the leaves, and a pivotal connection between the rod and body supporting the rod for movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of pivotal movement of. the body whereby the blade may be moved between a position between the leaves and a position clear of the leaves at the said end of the book.

CHARLES A. WATERS. 

